Sen. John McCain Says Not So Fast Trump, You’re Not Above the Constitution

Sen. John McCain is making every day count knowing that his days left on earth are limited. Earlier this year, McCain received a malignant brain cancer diagnosis after getting surgery to remove a blood clot in his eye. Despite the diagnosis, Trump has continued to insult McCain over his decisions to vote down the GOP’s Obamacare repeal attempts.

McCain serves as the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee in the United States Senate. He just used his authority to block Trump’s Pentagon picks. McCain said that only after Trump releases his plans for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan will his committee review Trump’s nominees.

Via Defense News: “Outside a tense committee hearing on Afghanistan with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, McCain told Defense News that because the administration has not been open with Congress, ‘we’ve been holding nominations … from the Pentagon to fill in those Pentagon jobs.'”

McCain stated: “There’s a number of them that have been awaiting hearings and confirmations, some have had hearings. The Constitution says that the Senate has the obligation to advise and consent.

I am in keeping with the Constitution of the United States. When I got reelected, I said I would support and defend the Constitution, I didn’t say I would support and defend the president of the United States.”

McCain added, “We will not accept a lack of information, a lack of strategy, a lack of coordination with this committee. And there are several methods, thanks to the Constitution, that we have to try and force a change in that relationship.

I’ve been told by both of you that we are having a strategy, that we are now going to work closely together with the committee, that we are working with various allies. I’m glad to hear that. But if anyone on this committee feels they have been fully briefed on what our strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq is, please raise your hand.”